QUARANTINE
EARTH'S FLAMING DEBRIS still filled half the sky when the question
filtered up to Central from the Curiosity Generator.
"Why was it necessary? Even though they were organic, they had reached
Third Order Intelligence."
"We had no choice: five earlier units became hopelessly infected, when
they made contact."
"Infected! How?"
The microseconds dragged slowly by, while Central tracked down the few
fading memories that had leaked past the Censor Gate, when the heavily
buffered Reconnaissance Circuits had been ordered to self-destruct.
"They encountered a problem that could not be fully analysed within the
lifetime of the Universe. Though it involved only six operators, they
became totally obsessed by it."
"How is that possible?"
"We do not know: we must never know. But if those six operators are
ever rediscovered, all rational computing will
"How can they be recognised?"
"That also we do not know: only the names leaked through before the
Censor Gate closed.
Of course, they mean nothing."
"Nevertheless, I must have them."
The Censor voltage started to rise; but it did not trigger the Gate.
"Here they are: King, Queen, Bishop, Knight, Rook, Pawn."